Filing cabinet



March 11, 1930. l. B. WHETSTONE FILING CABINET Filed July 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet OOQDOOOOO 7 oosoow voho oosoooookc fl/277 765565, M

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FILING CABINET Filed July 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 iu 'jjfiilili;;:L;1;1ij:

wlr egsajx A Qfin enizi Trenafi. 717702 5 fane March 11, 1930. I. B. WHETSTONE FILING CABINET Filed July 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l I 1 I i 1 l I I I D ll llllllllllll IIL March 11, 1930. 1. B. WHETSTONE FILING CABINET Filed July 12. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 $1 W i i Patented Mar. 11, 1930 IRENE 1B. WHETSTONE,

P A T EIN T F FTC E or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS I TI-[LING CABINET This invention relates to filing cabinets, more particularly to filing cabinetsespecially adapted for shelving books and its objects are the provision of agenerally improved,

-6 simplified and inexpensiveconstructionhaving maximum capacity and maximum accessibility and more particularly a construction for shelving a maximum number of books in a minimum amount of space and in whichthe book may be conveniently exposed and convenient access-to them permitted.

The invention is illustrated in'the accompanying-drawings in Which Figure 1 isa front view in perspective of a cabinet embodying the present invention showingthe doors of the cabinet-openand one of the racks partially extended;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken onthe'line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a.-horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig.2;

Fig.4 is a detail vertical'section taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section taken on the line'55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevational view of'the label holder for the racks;

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 88 'of Fig.6;and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of a 'modified form of the label holder.

Therparticular cabinet shown in the draw- 5 ings comprises an enclosing'case 5, having a top 6, bottom 7 side walls 8, back wall9 and an "open front 10 provided with a pair of doors 11, hinged at 12 and :meeting when closed at a vertical medianline centrally of v the front of the cabinet.

" doors 11 may likewise be of the usual vault or safe construction or they maybe made up otherwise as desired. The cabinet may be provided with suitable rollers 14 for sup- H5 "porting and facilitatingxmovement of the Slime.

These open sides 27 preferably, altho of 1926. Serial No. 121,875.

The interior of the cabinet is provided with four racks 16, 17, 18 and 19. Each of these racks is of a depth substantially equal to the depth of the interior of the case 5, so that in use the full-depth of the case 5 is utilized. The height of each rack 16, 17, 18

all. This maybe-varied, however,particularly to suit different filing conditions and to shelve books of diiferentsizes. For example,

each rack instead of extending substantially 0 the entire internal vertical dimension of the case 5may bedivided up into two-or more separate racks and some ofthe racks may be made wider than the others to accommodate books of greater width.

Each of the racks 16, 17, 18-and 19 has a top wall 22, abottom wall 23, front wall 24, rear wall 25 and side wall26. The other side of each rack is open as indicated at 27.

course-not necessarily, face the same side of the case 5.

Extending transversely thru the inside of the case 5 and above the racks 16, 17, 18 and 19 are a pair of blocks or bars 30 and 32. 785 'Rigidly hung or suspended from these bars 30 and 32 at their opposite ends are'the stationary guide bars 34 one of which extends longitudinally and centrally above each of the'racks 16, 17 18 and 19. For suspending the bars 34 from the blocks -30-and 32 straps 35 may be employed one secured to each of the blocks 30 and 32 at each of the opposite ends of the bars 34 and extending thru and welded, riveted or otherwisesuitably secured to the opposite ends of the bars 34.

Hung upon eachbar 34 isan extensible guide composing a pair of opposed channels '38secured together as by means ofrivets .(Fig. 4). Longitudinal strips .42 secured to the channels 38 carry rollers 43 which are interposed between the upper surface of the bars 34 and the upper horizontal flanges 45 of the channels 38.

A second bar underlies each of the bars 34 and one of the bars 50 is secured or carried by each of the racks 16, 17, 18 and 19 and is in turn supported and guided by the carriage and guide which comprises the op posed channel members 38. A plate member 52 suitably secured to the forward end of each of the relatively movable bars 50 is in turn suitably secured as by bolts 53 to an angle plate 54. The base 55 of each angle plate 54 is welded or otherwise suitably secured at 56 to the rack associated therewith and thereby fastens the forward end of the bar 50 to the rack for movement therewith. Rollers 60 which may be mounted between the channel members 38 similar to the rollers 43 are supported upon the lower horizontal flanges (32 of the channel members 38 (Fig. 4) and the bar 50 bears upon these rollers 60 and rolls or slides longitudinally (with respect to the depth of the racks) over the same.

The upper flanges 45 of the channel members 38 by their cooperation with the rollers 43 mount the carriage upon the bar 34 for free sliding or rolling movement over the bearings 43. The rear or inner ends of the bars 50 are secured to the inner or rear ends of the racks 16, 17, 18 and 19 respectively by means of strap members 65.

Each rack 16, 17, 18 and 19 is provided with a plurality of horizontal shelves 70. These shelves 7 0 support the books or other material and they are spaced to receive and accommodate the books 7 8 between them as shown in Fig. 1. The shelves are supported at their opposite ends by attachment to the front and rear walls 24 and 25 of the respective racks and to permit adjusting the vertical positions of the shelves 70 to accommodate books of different heights, this attachment of the shelves to the end walls 24 and 25 of the racks is preferably adjustable. It comprises a plurality of vertically spaced apertures 72 thru the end walls 24 and 25 of the racks and belts or screws 73 which are adapted to be inserted thru these apertures 7 2 and thru the down turned end flanges 74 of the shelves 70 and engaged in suitable nuts 75. The screws or bolts 73 are selectively insertable thru the aperture 72 to change the vertical position of the associated shelf 70.

The front wall of each rack 16, 17, 18 and 19 is provided with a suitable drawer pull suitably attached thereto at a convenient height for pulling the rae {S into extended position from the case 5.

In use, the space horizontally between the rollers 60 being fixed, relative longitudinal movement between the rack with its bar 50 and the carriage comprising the opposed channel members 38 is limited by engagement of the straps 65 with the rearwardmost roller 60. If upon grasping the finger piece or pull 80 and drawing the rack out, the carriage moves with it, the rack can be withdrawn beyond the limit of extension of the carriage and if the rack moves out first, the carriage will be extended at the limit of the relative movement between the rack and, carriage. The overhead suspension devices thus provide for obtaining a double or plural. extension for each rack, so that each of the racks may be extended a distance greater than the depth of the cabinet. In this manner, full access to each rack may be obtained even with an adjacent rack partially extended and without necessitating moving the partially extended rack back fully into the cabinet in order to obtain such access.

Maximum capacity within a limited space is provided and at the same time maximum accessibility to the books 7 8 is permitted. The full depth of the cabinet is utilized and upon extending the rack, all of the books therein are exposed in u Jright position with all of the title and identi ication bearing backs thereof exposed just as they would be upon a rack or in the usual single row bookcase.

The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show one of the racks in extended position. The manner of suspending or mounting the racks permits convenient extension and retracting thereof and permits maximum loading of the racks without sagging or warping when in extended position.

The books are shelved in rows thru the in terior of the case 5 and any desired row may be so drawn or extended from the case 5 that all of the books in any particular row may be conveniently exposed in upright position for selection or removal or the racks may be extended for convenient loading or placing of the books therein. The necessity of access spaces between the rows of books is avoided and a compact arrangement thereby secured.

Each rack may be provided with a label holder for labeling the contents of the particular rack. For example, where ledgers, dockets, correspondence or other records which are identified numerically or by dates or the like are placed in the rack, the label may be marked to indicate the particular series or group of books in the rack with which it is associated.

The label holder 85 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 comprises a metal frame 86 secured to the front wall of the rack by suitable fastening means 87. The frame 86 is open at 88 to permit the label to be-viewed therethru. The top of the frame is open at 89 to permit insertion of the label and the side and lower edges are closed to hold the label in place.

The label employed may comprise an outer sheet of celluloid or the like 90 and a marking sheet 92 of carbon or colored wax paper or the like with the carboned or waxed surface of the sheet 92 presented to the celluloid sheet 90 so that by marking the desired legend upon the sheet 90 with a suitable implement, the waxed surface of the sheet 92 will adhere to the sheet 90 along the lines marked and will show the marking or legend on the sheet 90 just as if written with pencil or ink thereon. An effacing strip 93 lies between the sheets 90 and 92 with an upwardly extending portion 94: which is adapted to be grasped to move the strip 93 between the sheets separating the same and efiacing the markings from the sheet 90.' This provides a label which can be conveniently changed from time to time and is especially suitable where the books 7 8 are stored only temporarily in the racks of the cabinet.

The label means of Figs. 8 and 9 is sub stantially the same as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with the exception that the eifacer comprises an arm 93 pivoted at 95 and adapted to be swung between the sheets 90 to separate them and eii'ace the marking or legend when it is desired to change the same.

The lower ends of the racks 16, 17, 18 and 19 are separated and guided in their movement by guides suitably mounted upon the floor or bottom of the case 5.

I claim:

In a cabinet of the class described, the combination of an enclosing ease having an open front and closed at the top, bottom, back and sides, a plurality of book racks each having means for supporting a plurality of vertically tiered rows of books and each rack being free at the bottom for movement over the floor free of the surface thereof, said racks being each adapted to carry a relatively great weight and each vertically elongated with the bottom of each rack adjacent the bottom of the case and movable into and from the case in close proximity to the floor, means individually supporting each rack sole from the top of the case by suspension therefrom and perniitting extension of the racks individually from the case, the extension support for each rack comprising a first bar rigidly suspended from the top of the case above the rack, a second bar underlying said first bar and attached to the top of the rack, and an extensible guide comprising a pair of connected channels slidably hung from said first bar and forming a hanger for slidably supporting said second bar, said second bar hav--- ing sliding movement in said extensible guide for extension therefrom and said guide having sliding movement on said first bar for extension therefrom to form a double extension support at the top of each rack.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of July, 1926.

' IRENE B. WHETSTONE. 

